Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 4:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 1. Call To Order Council Members Present: David Barranco, Sarah Cole, Alex Jensen, Rich Merkouris, Greg Neitzert (arr. 4:06 p.m.), Marshall Selberg, Curt Soehl, Pat Starr Council Members Absent: None Council Chair Curt Soehl called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. 2. Committee/Commission Reports A. Audit Committee: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 (Council Members: Jensen (Chair), Barranco, Merkouris, Neitzert) Council Vice Chair Alex Jensen stated that a follow-up audit on the 340B Pharmacy Agreement and an audit on the Bidding Selection Process for A/E Services were presented to the committee. He also stated that the committee discussed whether contracting internal audits to third parties would be beneficial in completing the audit plan. The committee decided to form a working group to study the feasibility of contracting and will provide a recommendation to the committee in mid-May. 3. Councilor Remarks 4. Presentations A. Arts Task Force Update on Arts Coordinator Position by Jeff Eckhoff, Director of Planning and Development Services; and, Janet Brown, Arts Task Force Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Brown opened the presentation by explaining the purpose of the Mayor's Arts Task Force was to investigate a mechanism by which the City and the Mayor can more effectively and efficiently interface with community needs as it pertains to arts and culture. As a result, the Task Force determined that the City should establish an Arts Commission with a full-time staff person and budget. They arrived at this recommendation after engaging with the public and various stakeholders throughout the City, both in and outside of the arts community. Brown provided background information about how other cities utilize such a commission and staff person, the benefits of the approach, and how this can be used to better network and secure funding for the arts.  Eckhoff continued the presentation by explaining the proposed full-time Arts Specialist position would have three primary objectives: plan, connect, and execute. In terms of planning, the Arts Specialist would: represent arts in the City’s long term planning and provide input for integration of arts in public projects and private development as requested, i.e. neighborhood associations; help in the development and administrative support to the newly formed Arts Commission including committee structure, i.e. Visual Arts Commission; and, direct and coordinate City art projects, proposals and calls for art. As a "connector", the Arts Specialist would: create partnerships for the promotion of cultural activities and offerings to benefit economic and workforce development; create opportunities to connect underserved and diverse audiences to arts experiences and opportunities; work with schools and other youth organizations to enhance opportunities for youth to connect with the arts community; serve as the point of contact for area arts organizations to connect them and facilitate an arts mentoring program to help them utilize best practices to improve the effectiveness of their respective organizations; and, collaborate with existing arts organizations to create new and expanded opportunities. Lastly, the Arts Specialist would ensure the execution of various programs and projects by: overseeing City’s investment in visual art collection and coordinate maintenance and manage third party conservator contract; facilitating access to federal, state, and private funding through grant applications and management; and, representing the City with state and national organizations and implementing best practices to enhance the City’s arts efforts. Eckhoff concluded by stating a supplemental appropriation would be forthcoming in the next several months to fund the position. Discussion followed about: the job classification; the process for forming the Arts Commission; the scope of authority for the Visual Arts Commissions once a new Arts Commission is in place; potential benefits of the new staff position; performance metrics for the new staff position and the Arts Commission; the proposed timeline for a new hire and creating the commission; potential budget implications; how other municipalities handle arts programs; and, program goals and objectives. B. Homeless Street Outreach Program by Jenna Harris, Policy Advisor; Jon Thum, Police Chief; Lt. Jason Leach, SFPD; Dr. Charles Chima, Director of Public Health; and Vanessa Sweeney, Health Department Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Council Member Rich Merkouris provided a summary of the Homeless Task Force recommendation to implement a Homeless Street Outreach Program and explained that discussions over the past several months have resulted in the strategy being presented today. Harris then provided background information that showed there are 387 individuals in the City identified as sheltered homeless and 20 individuals as unsheltered. The outreach program would be piloted on a two-year basis and use a contractor to implement it. The goal of the program is to use trained outreach personnel to meet with individuals experiencing homelessness where they are. She explained that this active intervention approach would help reduce barriers to making such contact and could increase opportunities for connecting the homeless to needed services. It also allows outreach personnel to most accurately assess other needs and conditions. To implement the program, a supplemental appropriation will be presented to the Council which allocates $250k for each year to the it. Harris stated that following the  supplemental approval, a Request for Proposals will be issued with the goal of selecting a contractor this summer. Thum and Chima then provided their perspectives on the benefits of a program like this. Discussion followed about: expectations of the program; how the program could impact police calls for service; how the program will be used to collect data over the two-year period to inform future decision making; and, the use of grants for possible funding. 5. Public Comment Tom Dempster spoke about the proposed Homeless Street Outreach Program. Sierra Broussard spoke about the Homeless Street Outreach Program and child protection. 6. Adjournment Council Chair Curt Soehl adjourned the meeting at p.m. Thomas M. Greco, City Clerk